Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished (2000)
Animal Collective's first release, on then "Animal Records", now known as Paw Tracks. Very few copies were originally pressed, but it was re-released with Danse Manatee as a double album in 2003 on FatCat Records. All songs were written by Avey Tare, while Panda Bear contributed the percussion; the original was released as not Animal Collective, but "Avey Tare and Panda Bear." The re-release was labelled an Animal Collective album.
The first release of Spirit contained this message on the insert:
"Not long ago a young boy named Avey and his friend Panda Bear roamed the patch work which covers the land (some call it forest). They were looked upon by Pan and raised by fairies and the Angels of light who play deep within the Wood. 'Let's make the music of childhood,' Avey shouted one day as the two played. Panda thought this idea was a good one. 'I can use my magical Rhythm sticks and you can play your Sun harp,' he said. So the two began to create melodies and Panda brought rhythms from every direction while Avey sang. All of the songs were about wooden toys and invisible friends and filled with the light of the forest. This is the first group of songs they played."
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